Anthony Stolarz's Fate Confirmed As Maple Leafs Prepare For Back-to-Back Games
Fans are hoping the injury to Anthony Stolarz isn't serious, and news has come out that things are trending in the right direction for the Maple Leafs goaltender.
During Thursday's game against the Anaheim Ducks, Maple Leafs netminder Anthony Stolarz appeared to suffer a lower-body injury after Anaheim scored their first goal toward the end of the first period.
Fans were anxiously waiting for good news, and while they got the best news possible with Stolarz being out day to day, they can breathe a little easier with a new update.
While he won't be playing the weekend, Stolarz ended up traveling with the team to Detroit, a positive sign that he didn't need to hang back for more tests and evaluation.
According to Luke Fox of Sportsnet on X, Stolarz was confirmed to be with the team but will not play Saturday or Sunday.
Toronto's Goaltending Will Be Fine In Stolarz's Absence
It's a big relief for Maple Leafs fans as Stolarz has been lights out this season and been in serious consideration for the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender.
He has a 9-5-2 record this season with a 2.15 GAA and .927 SV%, being a huge reason alongside Joseph Woll as to why Toronto is able to hold top spot in the Atlantic Division.
Speaking of Woll, it will now be up to him to lead the charge and prove that Toronto was right to put so much faith in him as their future number one.
He has a 8-3-0 record with a 2.16 GAA and .921 SV%, only a few points back of Stolarz in both categories. Though he struggled a bit since returning from injury, he's won four of his last five starts and looking like the Woll of old.
Toronto also called up Dennis Hildeby from the Marlies in response to Stolarz's injury, and it's presumed with Woll starting on Saturday that he will get the call Sunday against Buffalo.
Struggling in his short time with the Leafs this season, he won his NHL debut but faltered in game two and giving him a 1-1-0 record with a 4.03 GAA and .869 SV%.
Toronto will hopefully be able to weather Dylan Larkin and the Red Wings on Saturday without their star goaltender, however with Woll in tow it seems like things will be just fine for the Leafs.
